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VOV - Overview

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Common Reactions to Violence & Trauma

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The Ecological Model


Current Events:

Violence Transformed

 
 
 

 

VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE PROGRAM - CLINICAL SERVICES

VOV offers a wide range of services to held people, groups, and communities understand and deal with traumatic events. Our efforts cover the areas of crisis response and intervention, assessments, and longer term clinical care to trauma victims, including groups for people affected by trauma.

Current programs are as follows:


Clinical care at VOV is guided by an ecological view of psychological trauma, and a "stages by dimensions" understanding of trauma recovery. We understand that people who suffer violence are not alone; they live in a network of relationships and communities which may serve to aid in their healing.

Our "stages by dimensions" model of recovery identifies various dimensions of people's lives that are affected by violence and abuse and in which healing work may need to be focused. It also means that healing occurs in stages, so we focus first on securing and maintaining personal safety, then on dealing with the major effects of violence, and eventually move to forming new, more empowered relationships with others.

Many of our programs rely on grant funding to help communities and community settings afflicted by violence.

 

VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE - GENERAL SERVICES

People who have been victimized sometimes feel isolated and alone, reluctant to reach out to others. But reaching out is important, and seeking help is part of the healing process.

To help those in need, VOV offers confidential services to victims, families, friends, and witnesses. These services include:

  • Crisis Intervention and Support. VOV staff respond within 72 hours and remain available throughout the first weeks and months of recovery.
  • Psychotherapy. Our expert staff will evaluate and assess patients and provide ongoing psychotherapy to help them cope with their experiences.
  • Group Programs. There are a wide range of psychotherapy groups available for adults dealing with the after effects of trauma.

 

 

Call 617-591-6033 to make a referral or schedule an initial appointment with the VOV team.

VOV Brochure

VOV Groups

COMMUNITY CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM (CCRT)

Crime and violence affect entire communities. Violent events have a traumatic impact on victims, witnesses, families, friends, coworkers, and neighbors.

CCRT helps community members cope with traumatic and violent events by offering short-term crisis intervention and consultation services to affected communities.

Because each event is unique, CCRT tailors its services by working closely with members of the community to understand local needs and develop response plans.

CCRT Services

  • Help communities plan and implement their own crisis response efforts
  • Provide community "debriefing" meetings for those directed by a traumatic event. These meetings help people regain a sense of control over their lives and help foster community-wide coping and support
  • Training local service providers in understanding the psychological impact of acute and chronic trauma
  • Follow-up assistance to affected communities


About the CCRT

The CCRT was founded in 1988 in response to an absence of coordinated services for community groups traumatized by violence.

The team brings together representatives from mental health, social service, criminal justice, medical, religious, educational and other human services agencies in the Greater Boston area. All agencies participate on a voluntary basis.

This allows CCRT to plan responses to different events to address the specific needs of the individuals affected.

 

Community Crisis Response Team

26 Central St., Somerville, MA 02143

617-498-1180

CCRT Brochure

VICTIM ADVOCACY AND SUPPORT TEAM (VAST)


If you or someone you love has been affected by violence, hatred or abuse, the Victim Advocacy and Support Team is here to help you rebuild your life


Violence or abuse can happen to anyone. Victims of violence or abuse sometimes feel isolated and alone, reluctant to reach out to others.

You may experience feelings of fear, numbness and shock, helplessness, anger, anxiety, depression and even guilt or self-blame. You may have questions about how to cope with your physical injuries, how to heal from the emotional impact of your experiences, how to file a report with the police, and what the court process would be like for you. Or you may just want someone to talk to - someone who understands.


VAST - Who We Are

We are advocates, experienced in the areas of trauma, victimization, and the criminal justice system. We work directly with victims to make sure that they have access to community resources, medical services and the courts. Our services are always confidential and are provided at no cost.

What We Do

  • We provide crisis counseling and support for you and your loved ones
  • We assist with safety planning for you and your family
  • We act as a liaison with social service agencies, the courts and police
  • We make appropriate referrals to health, legal and other community services to ensure that each client gets the best possible care, advice, and support
  • We assist with filing for Victim Compensation
  • We offer training and consultation services to the community

This program is supported by The Massachusetts Office for Victims Assistance (MOVA) through the 1984 VOCA grant from OVC, OJP, and the U.S. Department of Justice.

Victim Advocacy and Support Team

26 Central St., Somerville, MA 02143

617-665-2992

VAST Brochure

 

CENTER FOR HOMICIDE BEREAVEMENT

No time to say goodbye…when a loved one is murdered.

The Center for Homicide Bereavement is committed to supporting those who are suffering the loss of a loved one. Too often, homicide survivors are left to both grieve an unexpected loss but also to come to terms with the violent and intentional nature of a loved one's death.

Survivors often feel alone in their struggle and their grief. Family and friends sometimes don't seem to understand or know how to offer support.


Program Services

Services are available for adults children, and families and are free of charge, They include:

  • Crisis intervention and ongoing counseling for families and people of all ages
  • Support groups that offer children and adult survivors a safe place to receive support, share concerns, and find new ways of coping
  • Victim advocacy, consultation, and support
  • Information on and referral to other services

This program is supported by the Massachusetts Office for Victims Assistance (MOVA) through the 1984 VOCA grant from OVC, OJP, and the U.S. Department of Justice.

 

Contact Holly Aldrich, LICSW at 6517-591-6123

CHB Brochure

 

FIRST RESPONDERS WELLNESS PROGRAM (FRWP)

The First Responder Wellness Program is funded by an American Red Cross September 11 recovery grant to provide services that promote wellness and contribute to the prevention of post traumatic stress and secondary trauma in first responders and mental health providers impacted by the events of 9/11/01.

The FRWP was initially co-developed in 2002 by the CHA Victims of Violence Program and members of the Cambridge Fire Department and Local 30 to provide Wellness services to first responders impacted by the events of 9/11/01.

Since January 2005, the program has also offered workshops to 9/11 providers who worked with bereaved families and first responders through the ARC September 11 recovery grant.

Problems experienced by First Responders

Surveys of First Responders, show that over 70% of respondents reported noticing changes in themselves in the immediate aftermath of their 9/11 work.

The most commonly endorsed problems included difficulty separating their professional and personal lives, feeling preoccupied with and/or over-identified with their clients, feeling jumpy or easily startled, experiencing sleep difficulties, dealing with unwanted frightening thoughts and images, and feeling disconnected from others.

Overwhelming grief, fear of flying, fear of separation from family members, and activation of personal trauma histories were also reported.

The nature of this disaster has been one in which individual clients have had multiple and diverse needs. These issues underscore the importance of effective coordination of services and
advocacy to ensure appropriate and adequate access, as well as the importance of communication through well established networking systems.

 

First Responders Wellness Program

Lynda Bolduc-Hicks, PhD
857-523-0923

Email

FWRP Brochure

 

First Responders Wellness Newsletter

Summer 2006 (PDF)